Which of the following statements regarding humidity is/are correct ?
- 1. It is a ratio between the actual amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere and the maximum amount it can hold at a given temperature.
- 2. When the relative humidity is high, more water evaporates from the skin.
- 3. Higher the air temperature, lower the relative humidity of the air.
Select the answer using the code given below :
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Statement 1 is correct. Relative humidity is indeed the ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of the amount of water vapour currently in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapour the air can hold at that specific temperature and pressure (its saturation capacity). Statement 2 is incorrect. When relative humidity is high, the air is already close to saturation, meaning it has little capacity to absorb more moisture. Therefore, evaporation from surfaces like skin is *reduced*, making it feel hotter and more uncomfortable. Statement 3 is correct. For a fixed amount of water vapour in the air, if the air temperature increases, the maximum amount of water vapour that air can hold also increases. Since relative humidity is the ratio of actual to maximum capacity, the relative humidity will decrease.